Trick fan



C. F. BREHMER.

' TRICK FAN.'.

APPLxcATmN HLED Dios. 1'920.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

' Httorney lwertlor:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL F. BREHMER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRICK FAN.

Application filed December 9, 1920. Serial 1\o.'i29.366.`

To all w /wm t may concern Be it known that I, CARL F. Brani-umn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rlrick Fans, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to `trick fans, that is to say, to that type of fan which, when opened in one direction, will present the appearance and will be serviceable as an ordinary fan, but which, when opened in a contrary direction, appears to be broken andin separated segments. Heretofore, in the construction of fans of this type, it lhas been usual to make the ribs thereof of thin wooden splints to which the web portions were united by glue or other suitable adhesive. When the fan so constructed was used for its intended purpose, persons who were unfamiliar with the proper method of manipulation of the fan would, in their bewilderment, frequentlyT subject the same to improper strains which would result in the ac tual destruction of the fan, either by breaking the wooden ribs or by causing the web to be pulled from the ribs at the place of attachment thereto.

rThe object, therefore, of my present invention is to rovide an improved trick fan of the type above mentioned, which will be so constructed and arranged as to be more durable than those at present in common use,

i and which, at the same time, may be inexpensively constructed.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part h-ereof, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a fan embodying the main features of my present invention, the same being shown opened in the direction to cause the same` to assume the appearance of an ordinary fan; I

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same opened in the contrary direction, to cause the separate segments thereof to become separated;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the fan in the condition shown in Fig. l;

Fig. et is a similar view in the condition shown in Fig. 2; and

F ig. 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the fan comprises a plurality of sector-shaped webs, preferably made of textile material. Each sector is provided with two ribs 7 and 8 respectively, to which the side margins of the Sector-shaped web portions are united in a manner to be presently described. The trick effect is obtained by the peculiar manner of pivoting the ribs 7 and 8 of each sector with respect to the corresponding ribs of adjoin ing sectors, the arrangement being such that the ribs 7 and 8 of each sector have disposed between the same, at the pivot 9, one rib 7 of one adjoining sector and the rib 8 of the other adjoining sector. By this arrangement, when the fan is opened in one direction, there will result an interlocking between the rib 7 of any particular sector and the rib S of the next adjoining sector, the respective web portions 6 serving to prevent displacement of the ribs beyond each other; whereas, when the fan is opened in the contrary direction, the respective segments will be free to separate as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The present invention, however, relates more particularly to the construction of the ribs and the manner of joining the sectorshaped web portions thereto. The ribs 7 and 8 are preferably made of sheet metal, having three folds, the folds being formed by creasing the sheet metal longitudinally. The side margins of the sector-shaped web portions 6 are included within the folds of the sheet metal forming the ribs 7 and 8, so as to effectively clamp the same thereto.

By the foregoing arrangement, the web portions will be securely attached to the ribs and will be maintained properly connected thereto, notwithstanding the rough usage to which the device may be put. Furthermore, it will be found that the ribs will be much stiffer than the wooden splints commonly used heretofore for such purpose, but if, however, the same should be subjected to such undue stress as to become bent, the same may be readily straightened.

It will be seen that there is thus provided an improved form of trick fan of the type above referred to, which may be inexpensively constructed, but which will be found to be quite durable in use, notwithstanding liaonese tions will liinit the movement of the ribs and thereby form a ian of ordinary appearance .and utility, but when opened in the opposite direction will permit the several sections to swing clear of each other, the ribs being formed of longitudinally creased and folded sheet metal, and the side margins of the web portions being clamped in the folds of said'ribs.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CARL` `Bi-inHMER. 

